Prosecutor Leading Investigation of 'Valley Murder Case' Resigns Immediately After Personnel Announcement

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Resignations have occurred at the frontline immediately after the announcement of the mid-level prosecutor personnel reshuffle.

According to the legal community on the 28th, Cho Jae-bin, First Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Incheon District Prosecutors' Office (Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 29), posted on the internal prosecutor network about two hours after the personnel announcement, stating, "It is time to say goodbye to the prosecution, which has been my entire life," and expressed his intention to resign.

Deputy Chief Cho was appointed as a prosecutor in the Special 2 Division of Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in 2004 and worked in the Samsung Group slush fund special investigation headquarters and the BBK case special prosecution team. He later served as head of the Special 4 Division at the Central District Prosecutors' Office, building his career as a 'special investigation expert,' and recently gained attention for leading the investigation into the so-called 'valley murder' case at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office.

Deputy Chief Cho was one of the candidates for promotion to chief prosecutor in this regular personnel reshuffle but was assigned as a prosecutor at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office on the day.

In his resignation post, he said, "Although I lacked ability, I think I was entrusted with many positions beyond my merit," and added, "In the recent phase of the complete removal of prosecutorial investigative authority (known as 'Geomsu Wanbak'), it was a great reward to properly handle the valley murder case, stake my position, and work together with juniors to help protect the prosecutorial powers granted by the Constitution and laws."

He continued, "I believe that trust in the prosecution is deeply rooted in the hearts of our people. I hope this trust will continue to grow and eventually overflow throughout our society."

The day before the personnel announcement, Lee Jung-hwan, Chief of Ansan Branch Office (Class 29), who led the investigation of the 'Lime case' as Second Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office in 2020, also expressed his intention to resign through the internal network. He was assigned as Deputy Chief Prosecutor at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in this personnel reshuffle.

Chief Lee said, "Although there were recommendations from those around me that I still had a role to play in the prosecution and it would be a lie to say I did not want to leave the beloved prosecution, I gathered courage thinking that it is natural to step down at this point."

Hyeong Jin-hwi, Chief of Anyang Branch Office (Class 29), also posted his resignation in the morning, saying, "I am leaving the prosecution that raised me to walk a new path." He led investigations such as the Optimus Fund fraud case as Fourth Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in 2020. He was granted a leave of absence from office in this personnel reshuffle.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.